How Long Does a Travel Vaccine Remain Effective?

How Long Does a Travel Vaccine Remain Effective?

You may have had travel vaccines in the past for other travel and are now wondering if they are still effective for your upcoming adventure. Vaccines provide many years of disease protection but range from one vaccine to another.  

This article will explain how long the most common travel vaccines remain effective. 

  How long does the Hep A Vaccine Last? 

The Hepatitis A Vaccine lasts a lifetime, thus only requiring you to take it one time.  

  How Long Does the Rabies Vaccine Last?  

You will only need to take the Rabies once in your life as it protects you for the duration of your life. 

  How long does the Typhoid Vaccine last? 

The Typhoid Vaccine is administered in two ways, by a vaccine shot or in pill form. The shot gives you 2 years of protection and the pills provide 5 years of protection. 

The following is a comprehensive list of travel vaccinations and “routine” vaccinations that are often administered at Miles Pharmacy Travel Clinic in Ashtead. We’ve included the travel vaccinations dosage and duration of potency.  

Vaccines that usually last a lifetime: 

  • Chickenpox: 2 shots, 1 month apart. 
  • Hepatitis A and B: A: 2 shots, 6 months apart. B: 3 shots 0, 1, and 6 months. 
  • Heplisav-B: 2 shots, 1 month apart 
  • MMR: 2 shots 1 month apart. 
  • Polio booster: 1 shot. May need booster again if high-risk or required. 
  • Rabies: 3 shots (if given before trip) on Day 0, Day 7, and Day 21-28. 
  • Pneumonia: 1 shot. 
  • Prevnar 13 (Pneumonia): 1 shot. 
  • Yellow Fever: 1 shot. Yellow Fever Vaccine may still be required every 10 years for entrance into some countries and in some high-risk exposure situations. 

    Vaccines that last 10 Years: 

  • Tdap/Tetanus: 1 shot. 

  Vaccines that last 5 years or less: 

  • Meningitis: 1 shot = 5 years, then booster if re-exposure. 
  • Typhoid: 1 shot (or pills). Vaccine = 2 years, pills = 5 years. 
  • Japanese Encephalitis: 2 shots, 1 month apart (or 1 week in adults) = 1 year, 
    then one booster if re-exposure. 
  • Cholera: Oral liquid (at least 6 months, possibly up to 2-3 years. Recommendations pending as of May 2019). 

  Last 1 year (one season): 

  • Influenza (“Flu”) 

  For a list of what vaccines we carry at our Miles Pharmacy Travel Clinic in Epsom and further information on each vaccine, please visit our website. Please book an appointment online to get your travel vaccinations in Ashtead and any of our other UK travel clinic branches.   

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